Indoor baseball game



June 9, 1942. w. M. PHARR 2,285,782

INDOOR BASEBALL'- GAME Filed May 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9 1942.

W. M. PHARR 1 INDOOR BASEBALL GAME Filed May 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2June 9, 1942. w, RR 2,285,782

' INDOOR' BASEBALL GAME I Filed May 8, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s PatentedJune 9, 1942 TENT" oFF1cE mnoon BASEBALL GAME V-Villiam M. lharr,Atlanta, ca; n Application May 8, 1940; serial No. 334,057 r 59 cla ms;(or. 273-403 Generically this invention relates to games but it moreespecially is directed to a game' apparatus for playing'a gamedesignated as indoor baseball and simulating the well knowngame ofbaseball. One of the principal objects of this invention is theprovisionyof a game device. for playing a game simulating baseball, andadapted forplaying other ball and number games, affording recreative,pleasurable, andhealthful exercise and adapted to be played by one orseveral players 'or-competitively by teams composed of any number ofplayers up .to nine, said device including aplay-ing field or'baseballdiamond with field pieces representing baseball players arranged thereonsubstantially according to baseball player positions, said field pieceshaving an electrical connection with a game value indicating device sothat when afield piece is knocked down by a thrown ball the play will beindicated by; a light and an audible signal,.;and meansfcr'resettingsaidfield pieces. Anotherrobject of this invention is the provi-. sion'of agame apparatus ofthe above character which may be played indoors or ifdesired out of doors; and which apparatus may embody one or a pair ofplaying fields combined, in a unitary portable structure. i; A furtherimportant object of'this invention is an apparatus having an inclinedfloor section formed from a fabric or other flexible'material 3iresiliently anchored at its ends and comprising a playing field on whichare predeterminedly arranged hingedly mounted field pieces, each adaptedto .be knocked down by a thrown; ball, and when the ball strikes thefloor said floorl'will tend to absorb the shockand preventunduedefiection of the ball and automatically assume its. original positionfollowing such contact; 'A still further object of this invention istheprovision of a game apparatus; of this character in'addition to thecanvas or other flexibleplaying field floor section havingsides and endsections of similar or other flexible material adapteduto likewiseabsorb the shock when hitby a thrown ball so that the same will notrebound as would otherwise be the case, and interconnected means inconnection with therear andfront; of. the playing field forautomatically returning the thrown balls to the players position: i Astill further object of this inventicnlis the provision of a gameapparatus embodying'a flexibleinclined floor, and vertical side and endwall structures mounted in pairs; hinged field-pieces extending aboveeach'playing field electrically connected with a play: value indicating-d'evic'e andan audible signal device,'each field piece when struck-by aball adapted to be knocked down and to remain in such position duringthe playing of the game, means at the players position forsimultaneously resetting said field pieces, and means for automaticallyreturning the thrown balls to the players position. Y .Another' objectis the provision of a game apparatus embodying a pair of enclosed gameplaying mechanisms normally open at one end, and independently operablecurtainmeans for closing one or bothof saidplayingfields, s'aid pair ofindependent game apparatus being combined in a unitary housing structureadapted to be portablymoved from one place to another as desired.' r f Afurther object cfthisinvention is the provision-of novel hingedlymounted fieldpieces, each field piece being so constructed; mounted, andelectrically connected that when it is deflected bya'thrown ball it willring a bell and light a light to indicate the play or score made, andincluding means for" breaking the light circuit and returning the field:piece to its normal. up right position. g V v l 7 With these and. otherobjects in view, which will become apparent as. the. descriptionproceeds, theinvention jresides in the construction, com.- bination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichv like characters ofreference indicate like. parts throughout. the'severalfigures, ofwhich:. Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved game apparatusshowing apair of playing. fields. Fig. 2.is a plan'viewof one of theplaying fields andassoc'iatedpartsv a Fig. 3 is a vertic'allongitudinalsection on: the line 3+3 ofFigw2. .j q g EigJl is a verticaltransversesection on the line4-4 of Fig. 2.} 7

;Fig. an enlarged detail view showing --one of the knock downfield.pieces andassociated pa '1. 1". i; T. f

Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail view injplan showing the connection.rbetween the adjacent playing fields and the -dividing curtain section;Fig, '7 is a detailperspectiva viewshowing: the details ofconstructionio'f the playing fieldo'r' floor S i I j I" 'J' I: .f.

Fig; 8 is a view or oneicf the: roller :mountings. '1 Fig.:9 is:aTse'ction on: the 'line"9-9'."of 'Fig; 8:.

associated pulleys;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line III I of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram.

The game devices of this general nature with which I am familiar haveproven deficient in many respects, such as, being to complicated, tooexpensive to construct, not adapted to be played both indoors and out ofdoors, comprising a play ing field so constructed as to cause the thrownballs to rebound or be sharply deflected, not having an indicating andresetting mechanism located adjacent the players box, and simplifiedplayer pieces and electrical distribution system, etc., and it was toovercome such deficiencies and to provide a flexible, resilientlymounted playing field and substantially similarly constructed guideapron structure in advance of said field for guiding thrown ballsthereon, and flexible side and end field enclosing sections adapted toabsorb the shock and eifect deadening of a thrown ball when hit thereby,simplified knock down player piece construction, a unique player pieceresetting mechanism adapted to automatically relieve the tension on thereset pieces, and novel ball return means, the construction of thedevice being such as to embody a single playing field or a portableunitary double playing field with a common ball return means, saidunitary device also adapted to be arranged in batteries, similar tobowling alleys, that I designed the game apparatus forming the subjectmatter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there isshown a game apparatus A including a pair of independently operable gamedevices B, The apparatus A may be constructed of any suitable frameconstruction such as corner posts I and 2 at each side of the deviceconnected by side frame pieces 3 at top and bottom and front and rearpieces 4. Suitably secured to said frame is a rear end curtain orcurtains 5,

and side curtains or walls 6 and separating the,

devices B is a suitably secured hanging curtain I. Secured to framepieces I and 2 at each end are the spaced horizontal frame sections 8and 3 extending frontwardly beyond standard 2 and which are connected attheir ends by end posts I!) and adjacent to post 2 by posts II which areof greater height than posts I!) for a purpose directly appearingSuitably connected to front top frame 4 and post 2 are drop curtains I2adapted to be respectively dropped or drawn up to enclose or open thedevices B by draw cords I3 and I3 as desired.

Mounted adjacent curtains 6 and I spaced from rear end curtain 5 areupright frame posts I4 suitably connected by frame pieces I5 andadjacent posts 2 are the similar front posts I6 which are of less heightthan posts I4. The upper ends of posts I4 are hollowed out as at I! toconform to the configuration of roller I8 adapted to seat therein andwhich is journaled on the horizontal end portions I9 of bolt elementswhich extend downwardly and through standards I4 to which they aresecured by nuts 2|. Posts I6 are similarly formed with cut-out portionsIT in which is mounted roller I8 journaled on portions I9 of boltelements 23 similar to posts I4,

Mounted on said rollers is a fabric floor'or bottom 22 constituting aplaying field 23, and suitably secured to the ends of said floor 22 arehem secured rods or weights 24 suitably attached to one end of springs25, the other end 26 of said springs being suitably attached to posts I4at one end of the floor and to posts I6 at the other end to resilientlyanchor said fioor on said rollers, as will hereinafter more fullyappear.

Floor 22 adjacent its edges is formed with eyelets 27 extending throughthe folded-over or hemmed edges 22 in which are suitably secured hookelements 28, the free ends of said hook members 28 at one edge of saidfloor are adapted to hook over a rod 29 threaded in curtain 6 adjacentthe edge of floor 22 and at an angle corresponding therewith, the hooks28 at the opposite side of said floor are adapted to similarly engagerod 33 threaded in the partition curtain I. This construction operatesto effect an interconnected bottom and side structure maintaining theparts in position, while permitting resilient movement of the parts andpreventing the balls from falling between the fioor and side curtainwalls. Also fioor section 22 of the adjacent device B is similarlyconnected at its inner edge to rod 30, the eyelets 27 of the respectivesections 22 being in staggered relation. By virtue of this constructioncurtain I is common to both devices B and with rod 30 forms a commonconnection between the adjacent floors,

Each fioor 22 constitutes a playing field 23 and is formed with ninerectangular openings 3| substantially corresponding to a baseballdiamond including field pieces 33 adapted to extend through saidopenings and represent correspondingly positioned players at home plate,first base, second base, shortstop, third base, left field, centerfield, and right field, representing the playing positions in aregulation'baseball game, as Will hereinafter more fully appear.Surrounding each of said openings 3| is a stiffening wire 34 secured tothe under surface of the floor by the overlapping portions 35 attachedby stitching 36. This construction not only holds the floor in shape sothat its resilient movement will not interfere with the action of saidfield pieces 33, but also prevents ravelling of the edges of saidopenings.

As previously described, the field pieces 33 are arranged on the playingfield substantially in accordance with a regular game of baseball, butin order to simplify their mounting and operation it has been foundexpedient to arrange them in spaced rows 31, 38, and 39, Underlyingeachof these rows is a pair of parallel spaced frame members 46 connected tocross bars 4I suitably attached to the upper ends of posts I4 and IE, orif desired, to intermediate or additional posts I4 and I6.

As all of the field pieces are similar in construction and mounting onlyone will be described in detail. Underlying each opening 3I andintermediate the frame members 4c is an anchor block 42 having athickened portion 43 formed with an inclined surface 44 and a reducedportion 45 on which is mounted hinge plate 46 by a suitably insulatedbolt 47 secured by nut 48. The field piece 33 has a portion 49 on whichis mounted the padded portion 53, the edge of which is detachablysecured by the band or plates 5| by screws 52, said padded portionhaving a stem portion 53 adapted to extend through opening 3| when inerected position and with its free end hingedly connected to hinge plate45. Stem 53 adjacent its lower end has a right angular projecting lug 54to the free end of which is suitably connected one end of spring 55, theother end of said spring being connected to one end of a chain or cable56 passing over anchor pulley 51 suitably connected to the framestructure, the other end being connected to pulley 58 by bolt or otherconnecting means 59. Said pulley 58 is mounted on shaft 60 and securedthereto by set screw SI. Hingedly or otherwise connected'to the undersurface of field ipiece33 ad-i j'acent-itsupper'end is a :baflle rod, 62adapted to'extend throughop'ening 3lwith its; free end normallysupported by the .Iupperi edge of block 42 andwhich operates: toprevent. a-ball 63 from lodging behind said field piece 33fwhen rollingdown the inclinefloor T22 afterhaving. been thrown on the field -23-aswill hereinaftermore fullyap'pea'r. 'y While-the stemporticn;,53 hasbeen described as ,hingedly' connected to hinge plate 46,.if de siredthis stem may extendibelow members between which it is rotatablymountedand with the. resetting wire orcable '56 attached toiitslower-.endl'f I i e. e I I, a Each of the fieldi'pieces has electricalconnections which will'bedirectly more fully described. The respective"field" pieces: are teach" suitably grounded thr'oughhinge'plate' it andbolt iaiias atfH'lJ. Stemfl53 has suitably-secured thereto springcontact member 615 adapted tjoiengagethe ccn'tactj headififi of bolt 6'!:Whichiis mounted in the 'bell circuit and contact fidjofibolt 59 similarly. extending through "member 45 which is mountedin the light circuitand Which'circuits will directly be more clearly described. 1 The endfield piece of row 38 and its connection topulley 53 by chain .55hasbeen described and the remaining three field'pieces in said row38"are similarly connected to 1 their respective chains or cables 55':which areconnected to pulI- leyjzEB similar to bolts fie'at :spacedpointsxiir cumferentially'of said pulley. vShaft. ct'is journaled inposts It and at one endextends beyond saidpost'as" at T6: Shaft 60 vissecuredin position by collars 'il secured by set screws 12. Mounted onshaft 69 arepulleys 13:and It simi lar to pulley-58. Pulley 73- is inalignment with and adapted'to be connected tofthe;three-;field pieces 33mcunted in rowa3l, by .Ohains orcables 55; and pulley M to thetwo fieldpieces mounted in row 39 by chains or cables 56 similarto the cablesStdescribed in connection withpulley 58. 'Keyed or otherwisesuitably'mounted on; the free end of shaft 63 isa ccntrolpulley 15 andconnected to saidpulley:at a point-l6 is spring 11 to the' end of whichis attached a: chain or cable 18 .which is adapted .to' travel .over.pulley 19 mountedinthe base 80. of newel. post 'tlljfl'on which'ismounte'djplay indicating device 82 and field cpiece resetting.mecha'n'ism ,33, said resetting fmechanism including. manually"operated handle 84 extending through 'slot'85' in one face ofsaid hollowpost, saidhandle 84 being pivotally mounted asat 8Ei.with'in'said"post,and said chain or cable J8 extending upwardly through saidpost andconnected to'handle '84 as'at "81; the normal position-of said handlebeing in the lowerposition' shownin Fig. 51 v I j j f V A weight 88 isconnected to pulley 3'5 {at a point 89 circumferentiallypffset withrespect to point Hi-by a chain orcord 9d and to which is resilient- 1;connected the chain" 18 so that manually raising the handle fi ltoit supward position-rotates "puney 15 and "shaft cc with pulleys s, 58} andM, eir'erting' a pull onflcable's 55 attached to field pieces 33'thereby simultaneously moving said pieces from their "knocked: downp'ositicn's "as "shownat 9! toerect positionrFigfis) {and Whenthe'hand'of the operator is ren'icved frorn han- 1116 .84 counterweight83 will rotate in anti-clock iwise direction which pulls handle 84 't'oits initial lower 1 pc'sitidn and eifects': a slackening :an'd'i re.-moval of tension on cables as at 92 thereby .pe'rmitting 'each' field?piece .to be knocked down be apparent.

when struck: by a thrown ball? without disturbin theremaining field;pieces. ,1

1 Suitably mounted on the frame adjacent; cornefr'posts 1, intermediatethe, end of floor; 225- and curtains 5;, and at right angles to saidcurtains are the rollers 93 which are of a length? substane tiallycorresponding to the-width: of :the space between the; rollers [81 andsaid rear curtains. Suitably" mounted adjacentv the rear curtain, 5v asat Mjis the endi'of; the; conveyor or ball ret r track'f95: whichunderliesscurtainand extends at an ,inclinefdownwardlytoa; pointSfi andthence. horizontally to the indicating mechanism or, fpost 6-! ,1: and?suitably: mounted on either; si e adjacent; the. upper: edges; of'g'saidr ball, return chute edar'erollers B'I-similar to r0llers,;93,;and positioned at the lower. corners of said chute are the? smaller butotherwise. .similarrollers 358 L; A fabric: belt-like iconveyor floor e99, is :adapted -to extend 1 over :rollers 93. and 91: and, underrollers 98 with. itsends resiliently anchored by. rods; orv weights 2dand springs :25 similar to fio 0l '12,2, It-will thusv be'seen thatfabricgfll); constitutes a bottom'of the :rear transverse returnconveyor extending; at aniincli'ne downwardly in meeting direction fromthe. opposite; rollers $3 to; form with the ends of fioor:22 and rearend. curtains 5 the transverseball return conveyor section J00 which isadapted toric'liver the,flballs thatlfall to the rear of fioor 22: to,track- 95. Therefore the balls hittingthe side curtain 6 or I are dead;ened by fthe' shock absorbing qualities thereof, and the balls passingbeyond the end of floor 22 fall into 'said' conveyor; and are gravityreturned to post 8!, as will be well understood. A similar conveyortrack having, similar structure and flexible bottomfilgis: mountedadjacent the lower or frontend of said bottomiZZ or ,playingqfield; 23which. delivers; theth'rown ballsnot passing into rearjconveyortrackLHiB to: track 'asabove de scribed. Mounted on posts Val [similarto roller I8 and in'substantially horizontalalignment therewithisrollerf'l ill; and similarly mounted on pjost id 'is a'corresponding'rollerjl ill 1 Adapted to be mounted on said rollers-and resilientlyanchored at'its ends similar to floor 22 is afabric platform floor orapron I92 which is'gsimilar to and 91 erates as floor 22, and where a,thrown bajll falls short of the'floor 22 it serves to guide the ballonto the playing field or into said deviceas 'will 1 Adjacenttheindicatingpost or device it! isthe players box orfstation I93 andintermediate said box and apron; platformsecticnzlllz is foul: lineI234. .Mountedon one face of; indicating device 8 lis a pluralityfofelectric lights or lamps; des.-:- ignated generallyas use,:gThese'lights'jarerar ranged in three rows corresponding to the'fieldpieces in rows 31, 38 and 39 and in the same order and-:haveindicia H15correspending to said'player pi rccsxEach 'of'these-rlights lii5:i'selectrically connected :with its corresponding fieldipiece so that whensaid field piece is knocked downii't 'Will close the light circuit iandillumin'ate lightflfifi displaying the play'yalue indicia leEi'asZwillbe well understood.- Eachfieldpiece is also electri.callyiconnectedjwith a bell lG'IJsQthat as said field" piece is knockeddown it completes the cir -i cuit through said bell thereby giving anaudible signal-as well as lightingjitsrespective light" as A facingmember .9 may be suitably positioned fatithefront of thedevicefoneitherside ofiball return track .85" to": add to'theappearance' of the detiicei'andccnceal the lower edge t'of platformapron I02. Also the newel post structure may be provided with a door 8|so that ready access may be had to the interior as will be wellunderstood and bell I01 may 'be mounted on or within the newel post orat any convenient location as desired.

The electrical distribution system by means of which the sounding of anaudible signal and indicating device is operated to light a light toindicate the play when a field piece is knocked down by a thrown ball,will now be described.

In order to step down the voltage from, say, 110 volts to that suitableto take care of, for instance, a 15 watt bulb, or suitable for operationof the bell and lights, a conventional reducing transformer T isemployed, and which may be conveniently mounted on the frame of thedevice or post 8| or within said post as desired. Said transformer hasits primary coil I08 connected to a source of power supply by conductorsI09 and its secondary coil IIO by conductors III to switch or terminalbox H2 and from one side of secondary coil IIO to ground H3; said groundmay be conveniently located at post 8| or from I I2 as desired. Theconductors or wires I I9 from the lights to the field pieces at contacts68 may extend through suitable conduit within post 8i and from the baseof said post to the respective field pieces as shown in Fig. 5.

A step down current is utilized to operate the bell and the variouslights and for purpose of illustration one circuit will be tracedthrough the bell and one of the lights, the circuits to the remaininglights and through the bell being similar.

A source of electrical energy (not shown) is connected to primary coilI08 by conductors I09 and secondary coil H connected at one side toground I I3 and from the other side by conductor III to bell I0! andfrom said bell by conductors H4, H5, contact 66, spring contact 65 andconductor IIB to ground III which completes the bell circuit. The lightcircuit is completed through said secondary coil IIE! to ground H3 andfrom said coil by conductors III and H8 to light I05 and from light I05through conductor II9, contact 68, contact 65, conductor II6 'to groundII! as will be apparent.

It will be noted that the bell circuit is common to all of the lightcircuits so that as the field piece is knocked down and contact 65passes over contact 66 the circuit through the bell will be momentarilycompleted sounding the audible signal and when said field piece reachesthe limit of its downward movement said contact 65 will engage contact68 closing the light circuit and which circuit will remain closed andthe light on until said field piece is reset to erect position.

While the operation of the device would seem to be clear from the abovedescription, it might be well to further state that the player from hisposition in the players box I03 throws a ball 03 in the direction ofplaying field 23 in an effort to knock down one of the field pieces 33.If the ball does not strike a field piece but hits the floor 22 theimpact causes said floor to give and move one or both of the rollers I8against the action of springs 25, and such action together with theflexible nature of the fioor tends to absorb the shock and deaden theball against pronounced rebound or deflection, and if the ball is thrownwith sufficient force to go beyond field 23 and hit the rear curtain 5said curtain acts in much the same manner to deaden the ball and causeit to drop into conveyor I00, the floor of which by reason of itssimilar shock absorbing qualities prevents any substantial rebound, andthe ball is delivered by gravity to track for return to the newel post8I or a point availableto the players box I03, as will be wellunderstood. The same deadening effect is produced if the ball hits theside curtains 6 or I and if it falls on floor 22 it rolls into the frontconveyor I00 for delivery to conveyor 95. If the throw falls short andthe ball strikes apron I02 it is directed onto field 23, as will be wellunderstood.

If the thrown ball knocks down one of the field pieces, for instance HP,to the position shown at 9| in Fig. 5, which is permitted by the slackin cable 56, as it moves downwardly from erect position it momentarilyengages contact 66, closing the bell circuit and causing ringing of thebell, and when said field piece reaches its limit of movement as at 44,contact 65 will be in engagement with contact 68 completing the lightcircuit and lighting light I05 on the indicating device illuminating thecorresponding indicia HP thereby indicating the play, and which indiciaremains illuminated until the game is terminated.

At the termination of the game the field pieces are simultaneously resetby manually moving handle 84 to its high position which causes cable I8to rotate shaft 60 and its pulleys, thereby pulling cables 56 connectedto lugs 54 attached to stems 53 of field pieces 33 and moving said fieldpieces to erected position, limited by stops 42'. Upon removal of thehand from handle 84 weight 88 will rotate pulley I5 and shaft 60 inanti-clockwise direction causing a slack in cables 50, thereby removingthe tension on field pieces 33 so that a respective field piece may beagain knocked down without interfering with the remaining field pieces,as hereinbefore described.

While not essential to the operation of the apparatus, in order toprotect the interior from dust and the elements, when used out of doors,a roof 4 constructed of suitable material is provided. Also, a singlerear end curtain 5 may be employed but if desired said curtain may bedivided, the adjacent sections being connected to each other and tocurtain I, similar to the connection of said curtain I and floorsections 22, hereinbefore described, or in any desired manner.

From the above it is apparent that I have designed a game device bymeans of which a game of indoor baseball may be played but which islikewise adaptable to other games, said device being simple inconstruction and operation, manufacturable at a reasonable cost, andefficient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of m inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the abovedescription as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient andpractical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption ofmy invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that variousminor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement ofparts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claimsWithout departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of thisinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by'LettersPatent is as set forth in the following claims: i g

'1'. A game apparatus of the character described, Comprising a movablyvmounted resilien-tly anchored fabric playing field, a frame structuresupporting said field, a plurality of normally erect knockdown fieldpieces carried by said frame extending throughsaid fabric andpredeterminedly arranged with respect to said field, said field piecesadapted to be knocked down by balls thrown on said field, means forautomatically returning the thrown balls to the players station, andmeans connected to the respective field pieces permitting any one to beknocked down without regard to or interference with any of the othersand for resetting said field pieces in erect position, said meansincluding a manually operable rotatable means.

2. A game apparatus of the character described, comprising an inclinedplaying field, a plurality of normally erect knock-down field piecespredeterminedly arranged on said field, said field pieces adapted to beknocked down by balls thrown on said field, deflector means carried bythe respective field pieces adapted to prevent balls rolling down saidincline lodging behind the erected field pieces, means for resettingsaid field pieces in erect position in cluding means connected to eachfield piece, and means in connection with said connected means forautomatically releasing the tension on the connected means of said fieldpieces whereby each field piece can be knocked down without disturbingthe remaining field pieces.

3. A game apparatus of the character described comprising an inclinedplaying field, said field being constructed from a fabric material andhaving a plurality of cut-out openings predeterminedly arranged therein,a frame underlying said field, resilient connections between the ends ofsaid field and said frame, a plurality of knock-down field pieceshingedly mounted on said frame and normally projecting in uprightposition through said openings and adapted to be knocked down by ballsthrown from the players station, a resetting mechanism in connectionwith said field pieces, said mechanism including a rotatable element,resilient connections between said element and field pieces, manuallyoperable means connected to said rotatable element for operating saidresetting mechanism to effect simultaneous return of the field pieces toerect position, and interconnected means at each end of the playingfield adapted to automatically return the thrown balls to the playersstation.

4. A game apparatus of the character described, comprising a chamber, aplayers station exterior thereof and from which balls are to be thrown,an inclined fabric fioor for said chamber constituting a playing field,the sides and end or" said chamber constructed of a fabric materialadapted when hit by a thrown ball to present a deadening eiiect thereon,a plurality of hingedly mounted knock-down field pieces extendingthrough openings in said floor in normally erect position andpredeterminedly arranged with respect to playing field, each field piecehaving a contact member, said floor being resiliently anchored at itsends and adapted to substantially absorb the shock when hit by a thrownball and to automatically return to its normal taut position, means forautomatically returning the thrown balls to the players station, andmeans connected to each field piece and operable for effectingsimultaneous resetting of said field pieces, said means including means'for automatically releasingthe tensionofthe respective connected meansof said resetting mechanism with respect to said field pieces. i

1 5.-A game apparatus' of the-'character described, comprising a chamberhaving an "inclined fabric floorconstituting a playing field, flexiblesides and rear end,'a frame structure adapted to support said :fioor,sides, and end, said frame including rollers for each end'of said-floor,resilient anc'hormeans for the ends of said fioor, a plurality ofnormally erect knock-down field pieces carried by said frame extendingthrough and predeterminedly arranged with respect to said field, saidfield pieces adapted to be knocked down by balls thrown from a playersstation, ball deflecting means carried by the rear of each field piece,manually operable means for simultaneousl resetting said field piecesincluding a rotatable element, and means connected to said rotatableelement adapted to automatically release the tension of said resettingmechanism on said field pieces upon release of said a y operated means,and means for automatically returning the thrown balls to said playersstation.

6. A game apparatus of the character described, comprising a frame,sides and rear end carried by said frame, an inclined fabric floorresiliently anchored at its ends constituting a playing field connectedwith said sides, an auxiliary field resiliently mounted and located inadvance of and slightly spaced from the playing field, adapted to directballs on to said playing field, a plurality of knock-down normally erectfield pieces predeterminedly arranged with respect to said field andhingedly connected to said frame, said field pieces adapted to beknocked down by balls thrown on said field, said floor, sides and endadapted to produce a deadening effect on said balls when struck thereby,ball return means, said means including ball receiving meansintermediate the end of said playing field and rear end.

7. A game apparatus of the character described, comprising an enclosureinto which balls are adapted to be thrown, the sides, end Wall, andfloor of said enclosure having shock absorbing qualities, said floorbeing mounted on rollers and at an incline constituting a playing fieldand having resilient anchor connections, a plurality of normally erectknock-down field pieces predeterminedly arranged with respect to saidfield, means for automatically returning the thrown balls to the playersstation, and means for resetting said field pieces in erect position,said means including a rotatable means, cables resiliently connected atone end to said field pieces and at their other end to said rotatablemeans, and means for operating said rotatable means.

8. A game device of the character described comprising a flexibleresiliently mounted playing field, a plurality of normally erectknock-down field pieces arranged on. said field adapted to be knockeddown by balls thrown thereon, an auxiliary resiliently mounted fieldlocated in advance of said playing field, adapted to direct balls on tosaid playing field, ball return means, means for re-setting said fieldpieces in erect position, said means including a rotatable means, cablesconnected at one end to said rotatable means and at their other end tothe respective field pieces, manually operable means connected to saidrotatable means, and means connected to said rotatable meansautomatically operable at one end to said shaft and at their other end 0resiliently attached to the respective field pieces,

manually operable means resiliently connected to said shaft for rotatingsaid shaft to effect simultaneous i e-setting of said field pieces, andmeans in connection with said shaft for effecting its operation uponrelease of said manually operable means to release the tension of therespective cables on their connected field pieces whereby any fieldpiece may be knocked down without interfering with any of the remainingfield p WILLIAM M. PHARR.

